LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto had the Giants on the ropes through six innings, but a disastrous seventh unraveled everything. Jung Hoo Lee’s two-run double capped a four-run frame that put the game out of reach, and the Dodgers dropped a 6-2 decision to fall to 9-14 over their last 23 games.
Yamamoto Runs Out of Gas in the Seventh
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dominant for most of Monday night. He punched out eight Giants batters in six innings, mowing through San Francisco’s lineup with authority before running into trouble in the seventh. After yielding a double to Heliot Ramos and a single to Willy Adames to open the frame, manager Dave Roberts pulled Yamamoto with runners on the corners and one out.
Blake Treinen could not contain the damage. Drew Gilbert dropped a bunt single to score Ramos, and then Lee lined a two-run double to right that cleared the bases and gave San Francisco a lead it would not relinquish. What looked like a vintage Yamamoto performance turned into a 6-2 loss.
Ohtani Homers, But Bats Go Cold
Shohei Ohtani gave the Dodgers the early spark they needed, singling to right to lead off the first inning and later scoring on a Will Smith sacrifice fly to put Los Angeles up 1-0. In the third, Ohtani went back to work with his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center that briefly gave the Dodgers the lead at 2-1 after Eric Haase had tied the game.
Beyond Ohtani, the offense was largely quiet. The Dodgers went three up, three down in the second and fourth innings and could not capitalize with the bases loaded in the eighth, stranding Freeman, Tucker, and Will Smith when Muncy struck out and Pages lined out to end the threat.
Bullpen Falters After Treinen’s Tough Spot
Treinen entered in the seventh with a 2-2 game and inherited a mess he could not clean up. After the Giants scored four in the inning to take a 6-2 lead, Edgardo Henriquez held things steady with a scoreless eighth. Jack Dreyer closed out the ninth. The damage was already done.
Final: Giants 6, Dodgers 2
The Dodgers have now lost four straight for the second time in the last two weeks.
Around the Diamond
Transaction note: The Dodgers acquired outfielder Alek Thomas from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in exchange for 17-year-old prospect Jose Requena. Thomas, 26, was designated for assignment by Arizona last week after hitting .181 with two home runs in 100 plate appearances this season. He was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and is not on the active roster. The move adds depth in center field behind Andy Pages.
What’s Next
The Dodgers and Giants continue their four-game series Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium with Game 3. Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to take the mound for Los Angeles in a pitching start. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM PT. Ohtani will not be in the batting lineup.
